Kathy & Rhonda Are Expanding the Admin Table — Meet The BEA Network
What keeps me going is knowing how important this role is and how we can learn and grow in these roles but the key is to know who you are and see yourself. Know your work and know your worth. ~ Kathy
Having a lack of confidence not only begins to play on your own psyche, self esteem and self worth, but it will begin to also show up in your money, in missed promotions, opportunities and stretch assignments. ~ Rhonda
In this episode, I sit down with the dynamic duo behind The BEA Network — Kathy A. Adams and Rhonda Augustus — two powerhouse executive assistants, leaders, and changemakers who are expanding what’s possible in the admin profession.
We chat about their inspiration for launching The Black Executive Admin Network, the importance of visibility and voice for Black admin professionals, and how their own career journeys led them to build the kind of community they wish they had.
If you’ve ever felt like there wasn’t space for you at the table, this conversation is your reminder that you can build your own — and invite others to thrive alongside you.
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Thank you for listening!
00:00.84
Debra Coleman
Well, hello and welcome back to another episode of Have a Seat Conversations with Women in the Workplace podcast. I am your host, Deb Coleman. i am so thrilled, so thrilled today because I get two, not one, but two,
00:16.04
Debra Coleman
two amazing guests to join us today. Ms. Kathy A. Adams and Ms. Rhonda Augustus both are strong in the EA community. They are advocates. They are champions for our profession.
00:27.57
Debra Coleman
But not only that, they have started a new EA community network as well as they business owners and entrepreneurs in their own right. So they have a lot going on, a lot that benefits the EA community especially. So thank you both for joining me this week. I am so excited.
00:44.32
Rhonda Augustus
Hello. we I'm glad to be here.
00:49.27
Kathy A Adams, MBA
Hello, thank you so much, Deborah. I'm glad to be here to advocate and speak up for myself and other admins.
00:56.31
Debra Coleman
Oh, thank you both. This is going to be so fun. and i mean, we've we we know each other. We've chatted within conferences. We've done conferences together. We support each other on LinkedIn. But to have you both in my virtual living room is is going to be good. I'm excited.
01:09.67
Debra Coleman
Oh, so let's start then with probably the the one, the most, and not most important, but one of the most highlighted um activities that is going on for both of you right now, which is what you've recently launched called the BEA Network.
01:25.28
Debra Coleman
um And I'll let you let um fill fill fill us all in on what BEA stands for and why. But if you could briefly tell us, like, maybe what inspired you to create this space.
01:36.31
Debra Coleman
um And I know, but many out there may not know. And did you kind of feel there was a gap or something missing that you that even drove you to create that wanted to want to create a network in the first place?
01:48.64
Rhonda Augustus
Well, I'm going to let Kathy take this one, but she approached me with the idea of creating the B Network. Well, we end up calling it the B Network because she wanted to take on building a Black Executive Ad B Network because, as you know, Kathy is the queen of networks. And so she said this is a place that we needed and a space that we needed. And she asked if I wanted wanted to help create it with her. So it was originally her idea. And I'll let her tell you where she got it from.
02:27.38
Debra Coleman
All right, Miss Kathy.
02:29.25
Kathy A Adams, MBA
So, yes. So the B Network, the B Network, right? Black Executive Administrative Network. So it first started, um the idea, right, was Nadine King.
02:40.76
Kathy A Adams, MBA
So we're honoring her name and keeping her legacy going, but putting our own little twists a little different from what Nadine had.
02:41.63
Debra Coleman
and
02:49.77
Kathy A Adams, MBA
um na If those that don't know Nadine, Nadine had BAM, Black Admin Magic, and she started NAPA, the National Administrative Professional Association for Admins of Color, which has been the first that ever been created. And unfortunately, um a sudden tooth gone too soon, which was my friend as well as Deborah's friend,
03:17.62
Kathy A Adams, MBA
died of COVID in the beginning of our COVID time. And so once um she passed and Melissa came to us to host this conference um during Black History Month on February the 28th, Rhonda and I, Rhonda was working with me and inside my organization, I have two um administrative network groups globally, Admin Angels and the Black um admin group.
03:49.40
Kathy A Adams, MBA
And I'm like, we also need this outside of where I work, right? And so since Rhonda was with me for a little time at my company and she helped me
03:58.17
Debra Coleman
Mm-hmm.
03:58.45
Kathy A Adams, MBA
here Also, I know Rhonda from um years ago, seems like forever now, maybe 13, 14 years, we worked at another firm together and we just worked well together.
04:04.18
Debra Coleman
and
04:09.38
Kathy A Adams, MBA
We're friends, we're sisters. And since we were doing it for for our company at the time, i was like, hey, Rhonda, this is something we probably couldn't do because I know it's a void and for admins of colors can come together because we have different struggles, right?
04:26.08
Kathy A Adams, MBA
Those that understand say, yeah, amen, I'm with you, sister, right? um But we have different things that we face. Not saying we're different. You know, everyone has their own, but we know admins of color. We have to do things a little different.
04:40.31
Kathy A Adams, MBA
And I thank God for our allies that support us and help us. But we have different, we have to show up, right? They say show up as your authentic self, but do we really feel comfortable showing up?
04:51.41
Kathy A Adams, MBA
But we also want to let them know that it's possible, right? in some companies or in some areas to show up as yourself and still be still have a seat at the table.
05:04.63
Kathy A Adams, MBA
And so that's why we started on February the 28th, we started the B Network for Black Executive Administrative Professionals. And as of today, we almost have 1,400 um people on our LinkedIn page.
05:19.86
Kathy A Adams, MBA
So we're excited how fast we're growing and just to see what's next for us.
05:22.37
Debra Coleman
wow
05:24.60
Kathy A Adams, MBA
So yes, that's how we kind of got started under the legacy of Nadine King. And we just want to keep it going and hope she's smiling down on us and proud of what we're doing.
05:37.90
Debra Coleman
Oh, I'm sure she is. Absolutely. Just applauding you and being our, being the champion for you guys in this effort. Cause this absolutely, I feel has picked up the torch, you know, that she started and you guys are carrying it forth and yeah you're also making it your own.
05:54.04
Debra Coleman
You know, you're, this is, this is different times. We're faced with different issues, different challenges, not so much, but still there's like a slight slant. pre-COVID and this work new workspace we find ourselves in. So, I mean, that is fantastic. 1,400, that's amazing.
06:09.81
Debra Coleman
You know what that also tells me is that this is so needed. There was definitely like a community out there who felt like they weren't being recognized or that there wasn't a space for them necessarily or for us necessarily.
06:21.47
Debra Coleman
So that's just like, I think would just reaffirm what you've started. That's amazing.
06:29.12
Kathy A Adams, MBA
Thank you.
06:30.80
Debra Coleman
And I am a proud member. I'm so excited. Yes, love it. And I can't wait. I just can't wait to see all that develops out of this. Good stuff.
06:39.40
Rhonda Augustus
Yeah.
06:39.40
Debra Coleman
Good stuff.
06:40.62
Rhonda Augustus
What it tells me is that the need for community is very high this day, and especially in this day and time, because, you know, when we are in a community and we feel as though we're supported, especially in corporate America, I've been in corporate America over 25 years.
06:58.97
Rhonda Augustus
So the need for the community of black executive admins is it's just time.
07:06.96
Debra Coleman
Exactly, Rhonda. It's just time. Exactly. Very well said. No. Oh, well, i have a question now for Ms. Kathy. i have a question for each of you. So we'll start with Kathy, the trailblazer, if you will.
07:21.40
Debra Coleman
um So Kathy, your work has long been about elevating the admin role and shifting how people see this profession just as a whole too.
07:32.96
Debra Coleman
What keeps you fired up about this work after more than 25 years?
07:39.08
Kathy A Adams, MBA
Yeah, I see the role. It's needed, right? A lot of people don't like to say we are the doorkeepers, right? We are the the person that you come to for all the resources. And most of our consultants don't even kind of know what to do if it wasn't for us. and My team always say, like, if you didn't do it, I wouldn't know.
07:59.43
Kathy A Adams, MBA
But administrative professional is a career. Saying that, saying... we are needed. Yes, we have AI, we have ChatGPT, we have Co-Pilot, we have Gamma, we have all these tools, but we offer the soft skills.
08:16.10
Kathy A Adams, MBA
um AI can't know if your consultant seems like they're not having a good day and you could put a smile on their face.
08:25.72
Debra Coleman
Mm-hmm. Mm-hmm.
08:26.37
Kathy A Adams, MBA
They don't know if they're allergic to certain foods if you have to order food. But the thing that keeps me going is how the road changes so frequently.
08:38.19
Kathy A Adams, MBA
And I want admins to also know, yes, you may not, they could automate or send certain things ashore like expenses and billing, but you can be that strategic partner.
08:48.96
Debra Coleman
ah her
08:52.66
Kathy A Adams, MBA
You could understand the mission and the vision of the company and the team.
08:56.37
Debra Coleman
Thank you.
08:57.72
Kathy A Adams, MBA
And see yourself as more than an admin. And I can share a story about Nadine and I, when we first met, I had just relocated um from Chicago to Dallas and everyone in Chicago knew who I was and the work that I've done and how I built my brand there. I had to start over here. And I said, oh, I'm just an admin.
09:19.28
Kathy A Adams, MBA
And Nadine looked in the Teams um or Zoom, whatever we was on at the time. And she said, or the her sweet voice, because she also was a first lady, she said, don't ever say you're just an admin.
09:32.21
Kathy A Adams, MBA
And she just started speaking life into me. And I felt like Superman. Like I had my cape on.
09:37.02
Debra Coleman
to
09:37.20
Kathy A Adams, MBA
I'm like, yeah, that's right. I am. as just start remembering myself. all the things I had done and accomplishments I had made um back home and just start speaking it over myself daily. And I'm going to say this to others that's listening to the sound of my voice that you are more than an admin.
09:56.79
Kathy A Adams, MBA
You are the gatekeeper. You are the the strategic partner. You are the chief of staff. You are that executive assistant. You are the one that knows all the new softwares and programs and learn the processes to help your team and your company.
10:13.47
Kathy A Adams, MBA
And so what keeps me going is knowing how important this role is and how we can learn and grow just as quickly as they do in the consultant roles or the project management roles.
10:26.96
Kathy A Adams, MBA
But the key is to know who you are and see yourself, right? My executive coach says, know your work, know your worth, know your company.
10:34.94
Debra Coleman
and
10:37.31
Kathy A Adams, MBA
And I'm going to say, and know yourself, right? Because once you know yourself and what you bring to the table, nothing or no one can stop you. I hope I answered your question and there, but I just want admins to know that they are important and they are number one and they can be the best administrative or executive assistant in the universe.
11:00.85
Debra Coleman
Powerful, Kathy. Absolutely powerful. And you know what? no you answered it and then some because that is a beautiful reminder. I think we are so we are the we are so quick to second guess ourselves and do what exactly what you told us in your story of how you just putting ourselves last or making us ah making ourselves smaller.
11:19.27
Kathy A Adams, MBA
Yes.
11:22.20
Debra Coleman
um and And so I think that message can't be on repeat enough. And I know it's one thing to hear it, but it's also another thing to actually live it and believe it. And sometimes that could be a big bridge.
11:33.50
Debra Coleman
But as long as you you know kind of take baby steps to get in that direction of believing in yourself, i think that's so important. And that's kind of my takeaway that you share. That's amazing. You are empowered.
11:42.68
Kathy A Adams, MBA
and
11:43.29
Debra Coleman
You just channeled Nadine.
11:43.57
Kathy A Adams, MBA
yeah
11:44.40
Rhonda Augustus
Thank you.
11:44.61
Debra Coleman
I felt that. Yeah.
11:46.81
Kathy A Adams, MBA
and And confidence, right? Confidence is also key.
11:50.18
Debra Coleman
yeah
11:50.34
Kathy A Adams, MBA
So you have to be, confidence is a taught skill, right?
11:52.04
Rhonda Augustus
and
11:53.20
Debra Coleman
Mm-hmm.
11:53.43
Kathy A Adams, MBA
We're not all born with it because I remember at times i was in the corner quiet, whatever they said, I just accepted it until I just say, i have to advocate for myself and speak up for myself and others.
12:00.00
Debra Coleman
here
12:04.41
Kathy A Adams, MBA
Just like when you go to the doctor, you don't just sit on a table and the doctors guess what's wrong with you, have to speak up and let them know so then they can kind of give you options of what they think it is.
12:15.13
Kathy A Adams, MBA
And so you have to build your confidence and be an advocate for yourself and others.
12:20.51
Debra Coleman
I'm glad you mentioned confidence building. Do you find that it gets easier the more, or for you, maybe the more you spoke up for yourself and and contributed to conversations in the workplace, did it get easier for you over time?
12:32.52
Kathy A Adams, MBA
Yes, it did. And sometimes I used to do it. used to question myself like, should have said that? Oh, no, maybe I shouldn't have. Oh, God, forgive me if I said so. I shouldn't have. But over time, yes, um it be it builds your confidence. Like anything, you you don't ride a bike by looking at it. You have to get on and keep until you get good at it. And that's the same way with confidence. It's a built skill.
12:56.36
Debra Coleman
Now we're kind of tiptoeing into Rhonda's territory here.
12:58.51
Kathy A Adams, MBA
I know. I was just thinking, this run just turned. Yeah.
13:01.23
Debra Coleman
It is.
13:01.44
Rhonda Augustus
It's all good.
13:01.76
Debra Coleman
It is our voice coach, our voice, our coach, our confidence coach, Ms.
13:04.31
Rhonda Augustus
no
13:05.85
Debra Coleman
Rhonda. Well, if I may, yeah, segue you into this ah this conversation.
13:06.73
Rhonda Augustus
ah solid good
13:11.07
Debra Coleman
as As we've so spoken, like confidence is such a huge part of your message too. um What do you say to admins, especially women of color? i'm We're really niching now. Women, admins of color. Okay. Let's just, I know men struggle too, but we're here for the women.
13:26.80
Debra Coleman
um who What do you say to them who are hesitant to speak up in rooms? What do you say to the listener who's saying, I hear you, Kathy and Rhonda, but I just in the moment, I just freeze up.
13:37.43
Debra Coleman
where What do you say to them?
13:37.91
Rhonda Augustus
no Well, I'm glad you're doing this, Deborah. This is an awesome opportunity. It's one of those things, you know, confidence is always the reason why I began when I started out.
13:53.68
Rhonda Augustus
I did not have confidence at all. It was shot on all different levels from the time I was a child. I can just remember. And I tell this story as I'm currently writing a book.
14:06.53
Rhonda Augustus
It's called I Have Something to Say. Because I've always been that child. I love talking. um And I can just remember just always, ah i can remember being young.
14:19.70
Rhonda Augustus
And as a child, i was always kind of built up like, oh, you're so intelligent for your age. You're so smart. You're so this, you're so that. But I can remember getting into that classroom in like the first grade and I knew all the answers and none of the other kids were answers. So I'm just sitting there raising my hand and the teacher got tired of me. And she told me. She started sending notes home to my my mother, and she was like, Rhonda is disrupting the classroom. She is answering all the questions. She won't give any of the other kids opportunities. And my mom was like, look, you got to go in there. You got to be quiet. and
14:58.22
Rhonda Augustus
And so I start second-guessing my own abilities based off of how i was treated from that first experience. And I just grew up hearing things like Children are to be seen and not heard.
15:12.26
Debra Coleman
Mm-hmm. Mm-hmm.
15:12.82
Rhonda Augustus
And so I can just remember just shrinking myself. from ah from a mental standpoint that I would walk into rooms no matter what I did, and I did not want to be picked out picked on or seen. And so it was just this um overwhelming disappearing act that I played as a child. And it it went into my adulthood, and I didn't realize I had it until after I started having children.
15:41.77
Rhonda Augustus
And once I started having children, that is when i had to start addressing my own insecurities. And my confidence was the first thing I had to really start paying attention to because without confidence, you miss opportunities.
15:59.18
Rhonda Augustus
You will not raise your hand. You will not volunteer. You will not step up. And that started to not only play on your own psyche, or your own self-esteem or your own self-worth, it will start showing up in your money.
16:15.23
Debra Coleman
Mm-hmm.
16:15.99
Rhonda Augustus
How many missed promotions? How many missed opportunities, stretch assignments? Those things that get you that next level. So at some point, you've got to address the elephant in the room. And the elephant there in the room is you.
16:32.21
Rhonda Augustus
it is that voice that's in your head that tells you you can't say, you can't, you know, you not you shouldn't say certain things. You know, you're in meetings, in group settings. and you want to speak up, but that voice is telling you, shut up, don't say anything.
16:47.04
Rhonda Augustus
Nobody's really listening to you. You're going sound foolish if you say that. And so you're sitting there arguing with yourself, you know, and it's not, it's not even true.
16:50.63
Debra Coleman
Yep.
16:59.16
Rhonda Augustus
And so when I began to really explore, um, was when I became, uh, when I started taking public speaking training and,
17:10.26
Rhonda Augustus
Public speaking training was Toastmasters. It came in the form of Toastmasters. And it's one of those things where people say the number one fear in life is not death.
17:21.58
Rhonda Augustus
It's public speaking. People would rather die than to speak publicly.
17:25.00
Debra Coleman
yeah
17:27.83
Debra Coleman
Goodness.
17:29.09
Rhonda Augustus
That has to be a serious thing when people say, I choose death over public speaking.
17:31.99
Debra Coleman
Yeah. Mm-hmm.
17:36.59
Rhonda Augustus
you now And so once I really just honed in on it, I said, but is it public speaking or is it our confidence? And I just honestly believe it's our mindset. It's what we tell ourselves and what we believe about o ourselves. And our confidence has to be built.
17:54.17
Rhonda Augustus
So when you build your confidence, I don't care where you're speaking. When you step on that stage, you have 100% authority, clarity, and presence.
18:03.31
Debra Coleman
Thank
18:05.97
Rhonda Augustus
And it's not about what you look like. Confidence is that inner relationship. So you got to start with the relationship that's you. So.
18:16.83
Debra Coleman
Wow. Positive words there and powerful words. ah So, okay, I'll ask you similarly then, Ms. Rhonda, is it is it is it almost like a muscle that the longer the more you use it and tone it and strengthen it, it gets, i dare I say, easier, but maybe you you feel more confident each time you speak up?
18:38.63
Rhonda Augustus
It is. it's almost like what Kathy said. people we We are born innately as children. We have confidence.
18:50.15
Debra Coleman
Yeah.
18:50.31
Rhonda Augustus
It's one of those things that's taken away.
18:50.31
Debra Coleman
Mm-hmm.
18:53.75
Rhonda Augustus
Because children, by nature, they just trust everybody. They trust everybody, and they generally speak, and they trust everything. You tell a child, jump off the porch, and you'll catch him.
19:05.42
Rhonda Augustus
He believes you. And he's going to jump, you know. So it's one of those things that you do after over time. It has to be built back into you, you know, because for whatever reason, your confidence got shot.
19:21.14
Rhonda Augustus
You missed opportunities, rejection, you know. So then you have to go back in and do the inner work. And you have to start with the mindset.
19:30.69
Debra Coleman
I love that. Do the inner work. Cause that's really where it comes from. That's really where it comes from.
19:33.90
Rhonda Augustus
Mm-hmm.
19:34.80
Debra Coleman
Yeah. um So what would you say then to the, to somebody who says, well, Ms. Rhonda, I, I feel, i feel like I want to say something in a meeting or, or when I have my one-on-ones with my exec and I want to stick up for myself and maybe advocate for some professional development dollars or advocate for time off or try to reinvent my schedule.
19:54.86
Debra Coleman
But I find when I'm about to say something, I just clam up and I figure, oh, I'll just send it in an email or I'll get it next time. Is there a tip or a trick you can give us to maybe just jump over that hurdle in the moment?
20:07.91
Rhonda Augustus
Yes, it's called um lean into the fear. A lot of people, I always tell myself, if you're afraid of something, that's what you need to lean into. Lean into and stop overthinking it.
20:24.27
Rhonda Augustus
If you need to give yourself, um go i think what happens is we talk ourself.
20:25.04
Debra Coleman
Yeah. Mm-hmm. Mm-hmm.
20:31.44
Rhonda Augustus
It's that inner conversation where we say, if well, if I go in there, this is going to happen. you like We've already played out the scenario in our head.
20:39.00
Debra Coleman
yeah
20:39.40
Rhonda Augustus
And we need to cancel. There is a voice that we listen to that talks us out of the things. That is our next opportunity. What's the worst, like literally, what's the worst thing that can happen? Somebody i to say no.
20:55.36
Rhonda Augustus
That's not devastating.
20:56.80
Debra Coleman
Right.
20:58.36
Rhonda Augustus
It's not as bad as you made it out to be.
21:00.10
Debra Coleman
Mm-hmm. Mm-hmm.
21:02.38
Rhonda Augustus
But you'll never know if you never ask.
21:05.25
Debra Coleman
That's right. That's right.
21:07.04
Rhonda Augustus
So I would do it. ah As a matter of fact, if I had three ways to communicate, whether it was email, text, or in person,
21:17.99
Rhonda Augustus
I'm going to do the in-person because it's the most frightening one to do. The other two placates a little bit to your fears.
21:26.59
Debra Coleman
Mm hmm.
21:26.67
Rhonda Augustus
But that in-person eye to eye, yes, that that means you have to address not only my voice or my question, you got to address me.
21:30.49
Debra Coleman
Yeah.
21:35.18
Debra Coleman
Mm hmm.
21:36.31
Rhonda Augustus
so as um umm more yeah, I'm more in-person.
21:37.06
Debra Coleman
Exactly.
21:41.14
Rhonda Augustus
Yeah.
21:42.29
Debra Coleman
If we need a teaspoon of what Ms. Rhonda has, just a teaspoon of that, please. um Well, ah to both of you, now this kind of got me thinking, this is sort of like off the cuff, but that's kind of how we roll here.
21:54.29
Debra Coleman
Speaking of confidence and speaking of feeling like we actually are contribute valuable contributors in our workspace, there's a lot of stuff that we can do. Okay. It's put on us to do, but what's a shift that you'd like to see in how organizations maybe invest in their admin talent.
22:13.52
Debra Coleman
Let's flip it a little bit, speak to the bosses out there or speak to the people leaders, you know, ah ah who, who are, you know, running the organizations or overseeing these individuals.
22:24.52
Debra Coleman
Is there things that they could maybe be doing to help ease some of these, um you know, fears or insecurities? Yeah.
22:33.50
Rhonda Augustus
Well, when I think about it, your executive assistant is like your cell phone, your laptop, all of your technological devices rolled into one.
22:49.55
Rhonda Augustus
We would spend more money in our tech devices than we do in the actual person that is running our organizations and our livelihood.
23:01.95
Rhonda Augustus
If she or he is better as far as a developmental standpoint. How much more would that increase in your value, your worth, in your outcome, in your results?
23:18.17
Rhonda Augustus
So we have to invest in the thing that makes us the better part of ourselves.
23:27.00
Debra Coleman
Strong comparison. Kathy, any add any ah anything you'd like to add to that?
23:31.83
Kathy A Adams, MBA
Yeah, um development, right, and recognition.
23:35.72
Debra Coleman
Mm-hmm. Mm-hmm.
23:36.09
Kathy A Adams, MBA
um I know we celebrate our administrative professional for the entire month, but I also email the people managers at my organization because you don't have to just do it during an administrative professional week.
23:49.44
Kathy A Adams, MBA
Your company may have like e-cards or ah recognition hub or somewhere to recognize your admin when they do something well, or if you just think about them.
24:00.37
Kathy A Adams, MBA
Because the one thing a lot of admins say, oh, yeah, it's good to see that the admin angels are recognizing us, but I didn't get an email from my consultants or my team.
24:11.15
Debra Coleman
Mm-hmm. Mm-hmm. Mm-hmm.
24:12.60
Kathy A Adams, MBA
And yes, they appreciate us, but it's is better coming from the people that they support every day. So if I can speak to the bosses or the consultants or the the head CEOs or department heads, it's just recognize your admin just to say, thank you, I appreciate you.
24:32.64
Kathy A Adams, MBA
um And also during Administrative Professional Month, do something nice for them. Give them a gift card. Just let them know that you appreciate the things that they do because that little thing go will go a long way and you'll get way more out of the admin than you currently do because a lot of them still work.
24:43.26
Debra Coleman
Mm-hmm. Mm-hmm.
24:51.42
Kathy A Adams, MBA
Timeless hours and days not getting recognized. But imagine if that was you and you didn't get recognized or your kids didn't say happy Mother's Day, happy Father's Day or happy birthday.
25:02.99
Kathy A Adams, MBA
Even though you're not that person, sometimes you have to put yourself in someone else's shoes and see how you would feel if that was you. So bosses, recognize your admin because we bring value to the company and your team.
25:16.33
Rhonda Augustus
yeah.
25:20.46
Debra Coleman
Love it.
25:20.73
Rhonda Augustus
yes
25:21.78
Debra Coleman
Absolutely. You both very similarly mimic that same sort of messaging. Like just it's about value and recognizing their value.
25:29.78
Rhonda Augustus
yeah
25:29.79
Debra Coleman
um Absolutely. Like Rhonda, I love that. Like you'd go and repair your laptop, wouldn't you? You'd go invest in money in that. And here you have a living, breathing human being that probably knows more about you than anybody.
25:36.38
Kathy A Adams, MBA
Mm-hmm.
25:40.20
Debra Coleman
yeah
25:41.99
Rhonda Augustus
yeah
25:41.94
Debra Coleman
Where's the investment? And then, of course, the recognition that means so much. Yeah, we're not talking a ticker parade here, you know, like balloons and and floats, though. That would be cool. But even just ah like a discreet like thank you note or, a you know, acknowledgement during a staff meeting anything.
25:57.88
Debra Coleman
You know, and and it doesn't even have to be really a kudo to would you say like if, if we're in a group meeting right now and Kathy spoke up and said something about, um remember y'all next week is conference week so no meetings next week. that ah And then Rhonda as the executive in the room wouldn't it be nice to then have Rhonda say hey Kathy thanks for that reminder I forgot to mention that or I appreciate that call out Kathy just something so when we do find our brave and speak up wouldn't it be nice to actually have that be acknowledged.
26:25.36
Rhonda Augustus
Yes.
26:26.10
Kathy A Adams, MBA
Yeah.
26:26.69
Rhonda Augustus
Yes.
26:27.32
Kathy A Adams, MBA
And that's all they're asking for.
26:27.61
Rhonda Augustus
If
26:29.07
Debra Coleman
Mm-hmm. Yeah. Right.
26:29.86
Rhonda Augustus
you if you think about it from a corporate standpoint, oh when you're looking at metrics and KPIs, like they're they're all I work alongside the C-suite, the CEO, the CFO, the CMO, all the Cs.
26:30.39
Debra Coleman
yeah
26:33.45
Debra Coleman
right
26:44.80
Rhonda Augustus
um And the thing that they speak, they speak from a financial standpoint, you know, KPIs, key metrics, some and results.
26:56.93
Rhonda Augustus
And so when you look at those things, they invest in the things that they feel.
26:59.49
Kathy A Adams, MBA
you
27:04.66
Rhonda Augustus
gives the most value. Even if it's down the line, it could be something five years from now, they will invest right now in the results that they'll get five years from now from an investment standpoint.
27:06.83
Debra Coleman
Right. Yeah. Mm-hmm. yeah
27:17.95
Rhonda Augustus
So I think we just need to merge the gap between the language, the outcome and the results in order for them to see the value.
27:29.12
Rhonda Augustus
So sometimes we just have to speak their language in order to get what it is that we need.
27:38.00
Debra Coleman
Very well said. Absolutely. Absolutely. It really does take, you know, it it I don't know. I don't know if it's 60-40, 50-50, but it takes two sides sometimes, right? It's not just all on us and it's not all on them. I think together we can help move that needle a little bit.
27:56.39
Debra Coleman
But, well, these are like exactly the kinds of topics and discussion that the Bee Network is about, right? You guys are are, let's lift the, let's lift the rock up. Let's talk about all that we can in a safe space because representation and community and connection, it matters.
28:13.73
Debra Coleman
It matters for us because as I'm sure you guys have said and even heard people say, um you know, saying speak up. to one person may not be or look the same for another person, um depending on if what their nationality is, how they represent themselves. So it's important that you guys have built this network of where we feel safe enough to have these discussions that maybe we wouldn't feel comfortable enough to having them with other people. Not that they wouldn't understand, but, you know,
28:40.58
Debra Coleman
Allyship, you know. um So thinking about the Bee Network, so tell me about what do you think about Bee's impact for the future? Where would you love to see it go and and what ways would you love to see it grow?
28:57.03
Rhonda Augustus
I think we have a good start, Kathy.
28:59.21
Debra Coleman
Yeah.
29:00.01
Rhonda Augustus
I think we're actually, ah if Kathy would agree, we're kind of surprised that the, um though you know, the, the followership that we have gotten the, to you know, the attention and stuff. So we kind of, we, we didn't plan for it to have this much, um, attraction at the beginning.
29:21.82
Debra Coleman
Mm-hmm.
29:21.93
Rhonda Augustus
So it's really challenging us to, you know, um, address and step up and provide for. I would love to see, she knows how i feel about this.
29:33.33
Rhonda Augustus
I would love to see the B Network become a national platform where it goes from just being and virtual to where we're actually holding in-person ah you know conferences and um network gatherings and you know something that is a little bit more widespread along, you know, the nation. I would love for people to feel feel as though they feel they have a ah foundation or a model of something that they can take and reduplicate and start networking in more community spaces. Because i think
30:14.16
Rhonda Augustus
like we' we've had previous discussions, it's about the ability to be able to share experiences and be able to, you know, glean off of one another.
30:25.03
Rhonda Augustus
So.
30:27.98
Debra Coleman
Absolutely. Kathy?
30:30.76
Kathy A Adams, MBA
Yeah, I agree with Rhonda. I know i like virtual Rhonda like in person, but, you know, understand relationships. You have to compromise, right?
30:40.48
Rhonda Augustus
shouldn
30:40.60
Debra Coleman
Yeah.
30:40.85
Kathy A Adams, MBA
I had to throw that out there because that's what we go back and forth with. But, yeah, I do see it becoming national and we can have charters maybe in different cities, states, countries.
30:52.49
Kathy A Adams, MBA
where they can meet in person.
30:52.60
Debra Coleman
Mm-hmm.
30:53.69
Kathy A Adams, MBA
And that's where the networking come, where you you've just being in the same room with people with like-minded faith, might-minded workspace, doing the same thing.
31:04.11
Kathy A Adams, MBA
And you can help one another with different obstacles that you're facing day to day. Yeah, we thought about having conferences one day. And i I also, because I have a serving heart, I want to incorporate service that we can volunteer maybe every quarter or once a year and give back to the community as well um with what we're doing with the Bee Network, because I think that's important because the more you give out, the more you receive.
31:32.52
Kathy A Adams, MBA
And so I see us... going far, right? Being big, you know, conferences, workshops, mentoring sections, our spill the tea, sip the wine sessions where we can come and speak freely.
31:46.83
Kathy A Adams, MBA
We don't record those sessions where people can feel comfortable and share and get advice about different things that they're dealing with at work.
31:49.56
Debra Coleman
Thank you.
31:55.00
Kathy A Adams, MBA
You know, Rhonda and I are not the experts we have. We've been in this industry for over 25 plus years, the both of us. But we also have people on our team that's mentoring us that we can go to to assist us with answering questions they they they might have for us. And so we're excited. And like Rhonda said, it did grow faster than we expected. that We started February 28th and look at us now.
32:19.93
Kathy A Adams, MBA
But we're excited about it and we'll continue meeting and just coming up with different resources and workshops and things to share with the community.
32:20.29
Rhonda Augustus
Thank you.
32:29.97
Debra Coleman
And you really have. I mean, you know, the easiest thing someone can do is register um to be a part of your newsletter, and then you get all the things sent to you, right, in an email. And these emails are chock full of everything.
32:44.13
Debra Coleman
I mean, there's so much. there's There's feedback forms, there's resources, upcoming events that even aren't being networked. Like you share other events that are happening out there in the EA space, which is really cool.
32:55.57
Debra Coleman
um Honestly, there's a lot. you you The resources you share, and I love the whole like sip the wine schedule. and I mean, there's just so much.
33:03.19
Rhonda Augustus
Thank you.
33:04.61
Debra Coleman
Yeah, it's fantastic. If you really do, even through your newsletter, have that total like community vibe. Like, oh my gosh, there's just there's so much going on that I can be a part of. If this isn't mar my thing, maybe this is. And I really appreciate that just as a receiver of everything that you are providing. So, yeah.
33:22.52
Debra Coleman
It is fantastic. I can't wait to watch this continue to grow. It's going to be amazing. Ah, so neat.
33:29.43
Rhonda Augustus
thank you
33:29.83
Kathy A Adams, MBA
Thank you.
33:30.38
Debra Coleman
Love it. Love it. Love it. um So this must be really special, though, for you two to be doing this together. What does it mean to be building this together? um Can you imagine even envision doing it yourself?
33:41.50
Debra Coleman
Are you just so grateful to have each other to lean into and to lean on through this journey?
33:47.77
Kathy A Adams, MBA
Yeah, I think Rhonda and I balance each other, right?
33:47.80
Rhonda Augustus
Me personally, yeah, we were good together.
33:50.63
Debra Coleman
Yeah.
33:51.19
Kathy A Adams, MBA
Our personalities are different, but we're like that marriage, but we can gel.
33:53.40
Rhonda Augustus
but
33:57.65
Kathy A Adams, MBA
We gel. And it's been like this from day one when we first met um back at our first firm we worked at together. And so we kind of know each other's styles and that's important. And we both taken this um Elevate EA Masterclass with Joshua Washington and we're going through our gifts and um knowing our work. And we found out that we really do gel because our gifts are different, which we need each other's gift to bring things to life.
34:29.82
Kathy A Adams, MBA
And we see with the B Network that we bring an idea or vision to life.
34:37.76
Rhonda Augustus
Yeah, and i think it's a collaboration of sisterhood. You know, um a lot of times black, I'm going to black women because we are black women, you know, they get a bad rap of not being able to work together and all those stereotypes.
34:54.46
Rhonda Augustus
But i would love for B Network to dispel all of those disparaging remarks so against black women when it comes to working together and collaborating together.
35:07.14
Rhonda Augustus
Kathy's like, you know, the yin to my yang, you know, we have different personalities, but we compliment one another.
35:10.03
Debra Coleman
Yeah.
35:14.44
Debra Coleman
yeah
35:14.69
Rhonda Augustus
So she's more of like the champion, the cheerleader. I'm more like the, you know, coming up with all of the ideas and the things and, you know, so we just, it's one of those things where I enjoy doing, building this with her, you know, this project and, um,
35:18.28
Kathy A Adams, MBA
It's 4.5 pm. Time is to have a new workbook plan for dinner.
35:34.06
Rhonda Augustus
just hoping you know other people can come along and you know benefit as much as we have with
35:41.33
Debra Coleman
Wow. That absolutely comes, it shows through, you guys, in the work you're doing. That's proof right there. All that respect and love and empowerment that you each give each other is just coming. We're that we're selfishly the ben the recipients of all that. So thank you.
35:54.64
Debra Coleman
ah Keep it up.
35:55.20
Rhonda Augustus
it.
35:55.40
Kathy A Adams, MBA
and And the one thing we have to remember, like, if one of us look good, we all look good.
35:55.49
Debra Coleman
and
36:00.64
Kathy A Adams, MBA
And it's enough out here for everyone.
36:00.87
Debra Coleman
Mm-hmm.
36:02.72
Kathy A Adams, MBA
We're not in competition with each other. And we hope that everyone that's a part of the B community and our individual businesses understand that
36:05.57
Rhonda Augustus
Yep.
36:12.99
Kathy A Adams, MBA
We're all in this together and we want everyone to win. We want everyone to shine and win and look good. Right.
36:19.14
Debra Coleman
Beautiful.
36:19.31
Kathy A Adams, MBA
But once we understand that we're not in competition and we're all working together and it's enough in this bigger world, even if we have the same ideas, we still all will flourish from it.
36:31.60
Rhonda Augustus
yeah
36:33.37
Debra Coleman
beautiful Love that. Love it. Well, if anyone listening is like, how can I get in touch? What, how can I be a part of this B network? What do I need to know? Direct me on where to go.
36:44.04
Debra Coleman
Help my listeners find you. Where can they find more about you, each of you individually, and then also about the B network?
36:52.75
Rhonda Augustus
well
36:52.90
Kathy A Adams, MBA
So for the B Network, we're on LinkedIn under the B Network. um We're still working on our website, but it's www.thebnetwork.com.
37:03.89
Kathy A Adams, MBA
If you're looking for me, Kathy A. Adams, your number one admin advocate, aye Focus on building network groups for your company and mentoring.
37:14.67
Kathy A Adams, MBA
I'm on LinkedIn. It's Kathy A. Adams, MBA. And my LinkedIn business page is Kathy A.
37:21.34
Debra Coleman
Mm-hmm. Mm-hmm.
37:22.81
Kathy A Adams, MBA
Adams, your number one admin advocate.
37:28.83
Rhonda Augustus
And for myself, and remember guys, B is spelled B-E-A, not B-E-E. So if you're looking up on LinkedIn, you're going to put the Black Executive Admin Network.
37:40.48
Rhonda Augustus
ah And so for myself, I can be found at RhondaAugustus, that's my name,.com. That's my personal website for my coaching business.
37:54.42
Rhonda Augustus
I do business brand strategy, but I also do confidence communication. So I'm a confidence communication coach where I help those individuals gain their voice, articulate their value, and need to help them with their presence and confidence, so if you have any type of public speaking, any type of speaking engagements, or if you just want to gain the confidence and clarity in your yourself, I start with the inner work of your mindset first.
38:27.61
Rhonda Augustus
And I coach you through those things. And so then I'm going to host a confidence conference coming up in the fall of the year. Be on the lookout for that.
38:39.59
Rhonda Augustus
And that's going to be where i take my students that have been coached by me. And we actually present on stage with your friends and your family in the local area.
38:50.58
Rhonda Augustus
um
38:50.70
Debra Coleman
Wow.
38:51.78
Rhonda Augustus
And if you want to follow me on LinkedIn, um it's going to be my LinkedIn page with my name, Rhonda Augustus.
39:01.58
Debra Coleman
Love that, Rhonda. And congratulations on you writing your book. I'm sure that is quite the undertaking, but it sounds like it's going to be a good one. So I wish you all the luck with that. That's amazing.
39:12.60
Rhonda Augustus
Thank you.
39:13.67
Debra Coleman
Wow. And I, of course, will have links to all of this in the show notes. So just as easily you can hop into the show notes and click the links there to connect with Rhonda and Kathy or the Bee Network or all of the above.
39:27.57
Debra Coleman
um as you can see, these two powerhouse women have a lot to share, a lot of experience to share, a lot of ah resources, a lot of just... knowledge, the knowledge that these two together have is just unparalleled. So absolutely click those links, get to know Rhonda and Kathy and the B network a lot better.
39:47.87
Debra Coleman
um Before we wrap one final question for you both, before i let you hop off the mic and get on with your day. um All right, here we go. One final question. how you, we have, as we have demonstrated, both of you are incredibly busy.
40:02.60
Debra Coleman
You're building a network, you're building your businesses and you work full time. And of course, all the things that happen after five o'clock with family and friends, when life gets a little crazy for Kathy and Rhonda, what do you do to reset and rebalance? What activity do you like to do that just sort of brings it back to center for you?
40:24.32
Debra Coleman
And um Rhonda, how about you go first?
40:26.96
Rhonda Augustus
Okay, for myself, my reset is prayer and devotion.
40:33.12
Debra Coleman
Mm-hmm.
40:33.44
Rhonda Augustus
It always has been. um i am one. I will get up uber early in the morning um because I can feel myself when I'm out of sorts because I do carry a a big weight of family.
40:48.03
Rhonda Augustus
I have four kids. They're all adults except for one, but they're all at my house. And I have a grandson and I work in the businesses and, you know, so taking out time for prayer. I also exercise um frequently, which is a relief of a lot of stress.
41:09.42
Rhonda Augustus
um And I take a long walks. I'll go on a walk that's like an hour and a half or two hours just so I can spend time to give myself that solace.
41:15.74
Debra Coleman
Nice.
41:21.47
Debra Coleman
Wonderful. I love that. I'm a walker too, so I can appreciate that. Absolutely.
41:25.11
Rhonda Augustus
Mm-hmm.
41:25.77
Debra Coleman
Oh, okay. Miss Kathy, over to you.
41:29.00
Kathy A Adams, MBA
um So yes, I'm like Rhonda. have a lot going on in my world. um My mom lived with me. My cousin, my grandmom adopted when she was a baby, so we don't need family. She knows she was born as mental retardation.
41:46.05
Debra Coleman
Oh. Oh.
41:46.41
Kathy A Adams, MBA
I don't think they said it anymore. It's workability. My 26-year-old son is type 1 diabetic. He's at the hospital today because he went into diabetes diabetic ketios, DKA.
41:59.54
Debra Coleman
oh
41:59.92
Kathy A Adams, MBA
My brother, my baby brother, is two of us. He's incarcerated in South Dakota, 40 years. His oldest son, I'm happy. TT mom, he graduated on Friday um from South Garland.
42:11.54
Debra Coleman
oh
42:14.07
Kathy A Adams, MBA
And then my brother have three other children. So I have a full plate outside of the love I have for advocating for administrative professionals and inclusion and diversity.
42:18.21
Debra Coleman
Mm-hmm.
42:25.07
Kathy A Adams, MBA
I do not start my day or get out of my bed before I do devotion. That's the one thing that put me center. The other thing I do, I love music. So I listen to a lot of music. um I'm old school. I'm from Chicago. So i love house music, R&B, hip hop.
42:43.76
Kathy A Adams, MBA
hip pop um I love Zumba. I started back because I needed that stress reliever. So I love, and I walk, not like as far as Rhonda, but walking gives me that time away to breathe, get some vitamin d but I love traveling.
43:00.17
Kathy A Adams, MBA
So I'm looking forward to my first trip this year. I feel like I'm behind, but I love to go away and leave all of this. Don't think about it and come back refreshed.
43:11.35
Kathy A Adams, MBA
So those are some of the things that I do. do to keep myself sane and sanity.
43:18.00
Debra Coleman
Absolutely.
43:18.36
Rhonda Augustus
Mm-hmm.
43:19.26
Debra Coleman
Oh, my goodness. Well, first of all, I do pray for, is it your son who is in the hospital now?
43:27.25
Kathy A Adams, MBA
Yes, my my son Chris, he he's been type 1 diabetic since he was four and he's 26 now. now
43:34.36
Debra Coleman
Oh, goodness. Okay. Well, we send him all of the good get well vibes. I hope he is able to work his way through this and that latest episode and get back home um safe and healthy.
43:44.43
Kathy A Adams, MBA
Yes.
43:46.55
Debra Coleman
um And definitely to each of you, we hope that you are able to ah in enjoy some of these reset and rebalance activities because we will receive all of the goodness that comes about that.
43:57.39
Debra Coleman
So Kathy, Get that passport out and Rhonda, get on those walking shoes because we need all that wonderful positive energy. But it's good to see. Thank you for sharing that with us. We appreciate that. I like seeing how other women, what they do to reset and rebalance because sometimes we learn something new, you know, a new trick or a new trade or new activity.
44:16.01
Debra Coleman
So thank you both for sharing. Appreciate that.
44:19.03
Kathy A Adams, MBA
You're welcome.
44:19.21
Debra Coleman
Well, we have come to the end of our talk together. I can't believe it. Man, I could keep you guys on, honestly, we could just talk all things EA for so much longer. But you know what? That's what the Bee Network is for. That's what each of you are for in your individual platform. So I can't wait to further the connection and to amplify your voices out there.
44:39.84
Debra Coleman
I really appreciate you taking time out of your obviously busy schedules to have a seat with us this week.
44:46.36
Rhonda Augustus
Yes, ma'am. We appreciate being here.
44:47.51
Kathy A Adams, MBA
Thank you so much, Deborah. we appreciate you.
44:51.83
Debra Coleman
Absolutely. Thank you both.
